By Bob McHugh, The Province

Originally published: June 22, 2011

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

At the leaner and more competitive GM, the legendary Buick brand slots in very nicely as the logical progression for loyal consumers who want something more luxurious than a Chevrolet and an alternative to a Cadillac.

The Buick division has revived the Regal nameplate for the 2011 model year as a mid-size sports sedan that breaks away from the traditional Buick mould. It was born in Germany, as the Opel Insignia, where it has already won a number of major awards including the 2009 European Car of the Year.

The standard engine is an Ecotec 2.4-litre direct-injection engine that’s rated at 182 horsepower, but only comes with a six-speed automatic transmission. It does have a manual floor-shift mode and this drive combination can provide excellent highway fuel economy, rated at 6.5 L/100 km.

The optional drivetrain is an Ecotec 2.0-litre, a turbocharged direct-injection engine that’s rated at 220 horsepower. It comes with a six-speed manual transmission and a different six-speed automatic is an option. Its 7.0 L/100 km highway fuel economy rating is also excellent, considering the extra power.

The body structure is one of the most rigid in the segment and Regal has a long wheelbase of 2738 mm (107.8 in).

The result is a nice balance of excellent vehicle dynamics and a

comfortable ride. An optional advanced Interactive Drive Control system is only available with the 2.0-litre turbo. It offers three different operating modes -Standard, Tour and Spot -and changes suspension, stability settings, throttle response, shift patterns and steering sensitivity. In its most aggressive "Sport" mode set-ting the change in attitude is quite dramatic.

The 2011 Regal only comes in a CXL trim that includes leather upholstery. It also comes with heated front seats, a 12-way power driver seat, a 120-volt power outlet, Bluetooth wireless phone, XM Satellite Radio and the OnStar system. Available options include a navigation system, a Harman Kardon sound system with internal flash drive and a 40 GB hard drive with a USB port.

My test Regal CLX was built in Germany, but North American production is moving to GM’s award-winning Oshawa, Ont., assembly plant. This plant will also produce a new 2012 high-performance version called the Regal GS, which is due out this fall. Also available for the 2012 model year will be a hybrid-engine version called Regal eAssist.

The Looks

A nice-sized automobile, Regal has a rounded, sweeping coupe-like styling. Prominently positioned on a modern rendition the traditional "waterfall" grille is a large Buick emblem. At the rear, the sloping roofline connects to a short deck with an integrated spoiler lip and it has distinctive large, wraparound tail lights. Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are standard and the turbo edition comes with 19-inch wheels. Regal actually shares most of its body panels with the Opel Insignia. And there’s a very subtle indented character line that sweeps up behind the front wheel, carries through the rear door and aligns with the tail light.

THE INSIDE

The exterior’s sweeping design theme carries over to the interior, where the Regal’s dashboard flows seamlessly into the side door panels.

It’s a nicely crafted dash with a number of interesting eye-entertaining elements, a large glovebox and an extra drop-down pocket on the left side of the steering wheel. Overall, the dash provides a twin cockpit effect and it’s a low, drivercentric layout. The driver also gets a thick-rimmed, leather-wrapped steering wheel and well-bolstered seat to support to match its spirited driving experience. The rear seat is comfortable even though the seatback is more upright than usual and there’s no centre seat head restraint. An indent in the front seatback allows some extra knee room and headroom is okay for those under six feet tall. While the trunk is a good size and is quite deep in length, a small rise in the cargo floor makes it awkward to slide a heavier item all the way into the trunk, which can be frustrating.

SAFETY

On the safety front, Regal comes with "StabiliTrak," the GM stability control system and a full-function traction control. Six airbags are standard and additional rear seat side airbags are an option, bring the airbag total to eight.

THE DRIVE

The 2.4-litre Ecotec engine in my test Regal performed impressively well and it can provide enough power to satisfy most owners. Another bonus is that it runs on regular gasoline unlike the optional turbo engine, which calls for premium fuel. On balance, however, it would be hard to resist the extra power that the turbo engine offers, particularly when the fuel consumption penalty is minimal. My memory of the manual transmission, which I drove at an intro event in Kelowna the last year, is also very favourable. No matter which engine you might choose, it will come attached to a world-class front-drive chassis. It feels rock solid and it’s the rock upon which the new Regal will build its new image. You can feel it through the steering wheel and the seat of your pants, even after only having driven it a short distance.

Regal uses a hydraulic-assist steering gear that provides good feedback, feel and the car has excellent directional stability. The ride may be firmer than older Buick customers are use to experiencing, but it still does a very good job of smoothing out road imperfections.

THE SCORE

The new Buick Regal is a stylish, good-handling sports sedan that challenges the best imports in this class.